Page 24 of Darling Venom
Couldn’t blame her.
Not after I’d propositioned her in the bathroom to scare the shit out of her, so she’d leave. She cried to Tate afterward for hours.
I heard her hiccupping from across the hallway, sniffing and repeating, “But I’m trying so hard. I’m so good to him, Tate.”
Because, apparently, everything was about her.
I checked my phone, and sure enough, I had fifteen missed calls from Tate and twenty text messages. Why I’d expected to find Charlotte’s name there was beyond me. We never exchanged numbers.
I slept on the streets.
When I woke, it was four in the morning, and I was covered in my own puke. My half-brother tugged on my sleeve, hoisting me up to my feet and dragging me to his gross white Lexus RX350.
“I’m going to kill you,” he muttered. He sounded tired and pissed off.
Not if I kill myself first.
The breakup with Mark was a total shit show, and everybody got a front-row seat.
Even though we weren’t officially together, Mark insisted on making a public scene in the middle of St. Paul’s cafeteria.
Kellan read a book on the far end of the room (The Human Stain), stealing glances at us every once in a while.
Mark called me a cheating bitch and spat in my face for dramatic value. The spit was warm and disgusting and slugged down my cheek.
I took a deep breath, knowing I couldn’t afford to get into trouble.
“Sorry, Mark, I didn’t realize it was more than a fling for you.” I pretended to examine my nails, my heart beating so fast, I needed to throw up.
More than I wanted to kiss Kellan, I wanted to please him, and it was obvious he hated Mark with a passion. That was what gave me strength when the entire school stared and laughed at me.
“You know damn well it wasn’t a fling.”
“It was for me. Besides, for a big schmuck, your actual schmuck is not so impressive.”
It was a blow to my already slutty reputation, but it humiliated Mark to the point where he released a growl and punched the wall.
Then he yelled even louder, covering his fist with his other hand. If I had to guess, he’d broken at least three fingers in the process.
After the public cafeteria breakup, I’d officially become an outcast. But it was worth it, because Kellan and I were back to exchanging books and short stories.
He never thanked me or referenced our almost-kiss on the roof.
But for me, something was better than nothing.
Another year passed in a blur of exams, busser shifts, and days tiptoeing around Leah.
I felt like I was preparing myself for real life without living it.
age seventeen
“Happy Birthday, Dicks.”
I heard Kellan behind my back.
I turned around.
He dropped his leather jacket on the shingles and threw something into my hands. I looked down at it. A Valentine’s Day teddy bear. The type you squeezed in the belly, and it started singing.
